Oman in Winter 2026/27: Muscat Nights, National Day and Route Ideas

December, January and February are the main travel months in Oman, with Muscat International Airport (MCT) as the gateway. The coast is warm rather than hot, the mountains are cool and desert nights are pleasant enough to sit outside the tent.

Around Muscat, winter daytime highs usually sit in the mid-20s to around 30 °C, with evenings in the high teens to low 20s, and the sea stays warm enough for swimming. On Jebel Akhdar, at around 2,000 metres, days are mild but nights can drop close to freezing, so pack a proper jacket.

Hotels in Muscat, desert camps near Bidiyah and the few properties on Jebel Akhdar fill up over Christmas, New Year and the festival weeks, so book early.

Muscat Nights is the winter festival run by Muscat Municipality, with concerts, light shows, food stalls, family zones and heritage displays across several parks. The 2026 edition ran from 1 to 31 January 2026, with venues including Al Qurum Natural Park, Al Amerat Park, the Royal Opera House Muscat area and Al Seeb beach.

For 2027, the municipality has invited proposals for the coming season, but official dates have not been announced. Recent editions have run through January, starting in late December or early January and sometimes extending into early February. If the festival matters for your dates, check the municipality’s official channels before booking flights.

The main sites get busy in the evenings, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, the Omani weekend.

Oman’s National Day is 20 November. In 2026 the official public holiday falls on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November, as announced by the Ministry of Labour, which gives many residents a four-day break with the weekend.

Expect flags and illuminations in Muscat, and busier roads and fuller hotels on Jebel Akhdar, at Wahiba Sands and on the Sur coast. If you travel in late November, book those nights early.

Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around the second week of February, subject to the moon sighting. Sights stay open, but opening hours change and eating in public during the day is not appropriate.

A week to ten days covers the classic loop. Spend two or three nights in Muscat for Muttrah Souq, the corniche and the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, which opens to non-Muslim visitors on weekday mornings (arms and legs covered, headscarf for women).

Then two nights inland. Nizwa has its fort and a lively Friday morning livestock market; Jebel Akhdar above it offers terraced villages and cool walks along the canyon rim. Only 4x4 vehicles may pass the police checkpoint at the foot of the mountain road.

One night in a Wahiba Sands camp is usually enough; the last stretch is soft sand, and camps typically collect guests by 4x4 in Bidiyah. Finish on the coast: Wadi Shab starts with a short boat crossing and about an hour’s walk to the pools, and Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve runs guided night and dawn visits worth booking ahead. Green turtles nest there all year, though fewer in winter than in summer.

Drive times from Muscat International Airport (MCT): Muttrah 32 km, 49–62 min; Nizwa 145 km, 94–118 min; Jebel Akhdar (Saiq) 156 km, 127–159 min; Wahiba Sands (Bidiyah) 188 km, 119–149 min; Wadi Shab 171 km, 124–155 min; Sur 218 km, 158–198 min. If you would rather not drive after a long flight, HotelTaxi can arrange a private transfer with a local provider, booked online or on WhatsApp. For Jebel Akhdar, ask for a 4x4 when booking.